Incorporating crown ratio into prediction equations for Douglas-fir stem volume

Abstract

Crown ratio was incorporated into four Douglas-fir (Pseudotsugamenziesii (Mirb.) Franco) total-stem cubic volume equations as a nonlinear multiplier. Two of the equations are traditional linear equations, one is nonlinear, and one is a new component approach that divides stem volume into that above and that below breast height. These equations, with and without crown ratio terms, were fitted to a modeling data set, and the statistical significance of the crown ratio terms was examined. All equations were then applied to a validation data set for comparison of their predictive abilities. The crown ratio term proved to be highly significant in the component approach, and component equations that included crown ratio had the smallest bias and the greatest prediction precision of all equations examined. That form was therefore selected as the most accurate characterization of Douglas-fir stem volume.